ABA announces new senior vice president in Center for Ag and Rural Banking

WASHINGTON — On May 11, Steve Apodaca joins the American Bankers Association as senior vice president of ABA’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Banking. In his new role, Apodaca will lead all agricultural and rural banking policy at ABA, manage the Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee, and provide leadership to ag product and program offerings including the National Agricultural Bankers Conference.

Steve has more than 25 years of experience in agricultural, commercial and real estate lending and has worked at institutions of all sizes in Florida, Texas and New Mexico.

“Steve’s extensive background as a commercial banker with a focus on agricultural lending make him an excellent addition to our Center for Ag and Rural Banking,” said James Ballentine, ABA’s executive vice president of congressional relations. “He will be able to provide essential insight to the challenges and opportunities for our members in rural America.”

Apodaca comes to the association from Wells Fargo Bank in Las Cruces, N.M., where he served as vice president and principal business relationship manager. At Wells Fargo, Apodaca was responsible for business development and community efforts. His agricultural banking work focused on onion, chili, cotton, pecan, alfalfa and grain producers as well as cattle ranchers. Prior to his time at Wells Fargo, Apodaca was a vice president at BBVA Compass, a regional manager of commercial banking at First National Bank of Arizona and vice president of regional business development at Temecula Valley Bank.